I wonder, how difficult is it for you to move? 

Most people don’t really love change, it’s true.  We like things to remain as they are, even when they aren’t good.  Simply because we fear change.  Does this ever describe you?

It’s amazing the amount of disfunction people will live in just because it’s what they’ve always known.  Or it’s what generations before them did, so they have no motivation to move toward change. 

Some of us believe we have no fear of change, because we make large changes.  New jobs, new relationships, etc.  Yet we continue to live in the same pattern of behavior year after year, with no change.

I’d say most people are very resistant to real, true, and lasting changes in their own hearts… behaviors… thought patterns. 

It’s time to move.  

Move away from toxic behaviors.  Move away from self-sabotaging thought patterns.  Move away from limiting beliefs.

It’s time to send an eviction notice to the old patterns of life that have thus far refused change, thereby binding us from truly experiencing growth in the future. 

In my own life, it’s felt like God has brought out His microscope to reveal to me places so deep within me, that I’d never notice unless He showed me.  These places must be changed.  I must allow movement in the hardest places within my heart and mind. 

I’ve spent years allowing God to change one thing after another.  Every time I’ve thought we were nearly done; He zooms in closer. 

He desires our freedom even more than we do.  He won’t just “let it be”.  He loves us too much.

Some of the places inside that need the deepest change are the ones we’ve lived with all our lives.  Things truly engrained within us.  The way family treats us, so that’s how we see ourselves.  Generational sins and strongholds.  We truly need to be fully transformed.

If you have felt stalled out in life, then today is the day to MOVE! 

Choose to move away from the past and into His future. 

For the Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the One to Whom we are accountable.  Hebrews 4:12-13

Now all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!  Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

I was contemplating trust today. 

What is it that causes me to trust?  How do I hold onto trusting a person, knowing they can and likely will disappoint me at some point?

I was considering my husband and my children and wondering how to trust them better.  What does it look like to trust?  How do I know the difference between trusting and deciding to not notice wrongdoings?  How do you trust through hurt?  What is it that happens in the moments when I’ve been walking in trust, then suddenly find myself holding it back?

These are all balances I’ve been learning for years.  Longing to truly know what trust looks like.  Wanting to truly experience the freedom found in simply trusting.

Then God reminded me of something.  I saw it in my mind, as clear as day.

I saw Chris, and then I saw this presence in and around him.  Suddenly, when I was looking at him, I saw him through the presence surrounding and inside of him.  God spoke to me, “You don’t trust a person, you trust Me inside of them.  When you keep focused on trusting Me in them, then you can trust that I will convict them, lead them, mold them.  And all the while, you know you can always trust that I am protecting you…so you can trust My process in other’s lives.   If you know that I’m always working within you, then you also know I’m consistently working in others. 

I remembered that the times I have felt at peace with trusting are the times when I’ve been acutely aware of God’s hand and sovereignty moving in others. 

He’s right, obviously.  I have never trusted Chris; I’ve trusted Christ in him.  I don’t trust my kids; I trust Holy Spirit in them.

There is another obstacle to trust though.  I’ve seen it over and over, in myself and as I’ve observed others.  This obstacle is the perception of and desire for justice.

When we decide that we must have justice, then we often begin to walk outside of trust and into control.  Changing dance partners with Christ and twirling our way toward the enemy.  It’s a stark contrast between the two.

Trust offers freedom.  Freedom to change.  Freedom to make mistakes and receive forgiveness.  Freedom to grow and be changed.  Freedom is a necessary component of growth. 

We know these are godly attributes, based on the scripture we read earlier this year, that included…

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  (2 Cor. 3:17b)

Control demands obedience, not to Christ, but to you.  Control is the complete opposite of trust.  Control says, “My way is the only way.”  But we know, His way is the only way.  Control cuts off all growth because there is no room for change, mistakes, and forgiveness…you see?  It’s quite literally the antithesis of trust.  It’s pharisaical in nature.

Consider these portions of Matthew 23, but I also encourage you to read the entire passage, on your own time.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.  So, practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example.  For they don’t practice what they teach.  They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.  Everything they do is for show.   Matthew 23:1-5a

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.  Hypocrites!  For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces.  You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.  Matthew 23:13-14

We don’t want to hold others to a standard that we aren’t able to keep, do we?  Yet, we often do just that.  When we withhold trust and extend a controlling hand, we are telling others, “You are incapable of being trusted.  Look to me, I’m the standard.”  But nothing could be further from the truth.

Today, I encourage you to, first, look at your closest relationships.  Your spouse and children.  Ask yourself this, “Do I think I am the only one capable of being trusted?”  Do you treat your family as if they are capable individuals?  Do you treat your spouse the same way you treat your children, or do you allow your spouse to be an adult?  If you have teen or adult children, do you still treat them as if they are toddlers?

If we want to have healthy relationships with others, then at some point, we must let them grow.  We must begin to trust.  Trust God to refine, correct, direct, grow, and mature them.

Is there someone in your home that you’re struggling with?  You want them to mature and behave in an adult way, yet they aren’t?  I encourage you to first look at yourself.  Are you allowing them space to fail?  Space to make good or bad choices?  Are you stepping in every time they have even a little discomfort?  In your desire to be their safety net, have you instead become a hindrance to their growth?

These are hard things to look at, but they are worth it. 

Today is a great day to take step one toward trusting God in ALL things.

I saw myself by the water.  Sitting on the ground, I was moving my hand slowly back and forth in the crisp clearness.  The water seemed sweet.  The air around me felt light.  I was content. 

Then, I suddenly felt like I was running late.  Had I missed something?  Was I behind?  Where was God? 

Then I heard, “In the moments when you don’t know where to go or what to do next, wait.”

We are not very good at waiting, most often.  But waiting is exactly what God has had His people do since the beginning of time.

But, why?  Here’s one really good reason.

But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

When we learn how to wait, when God says “Wait”…then we find renewed strength. 

If you are feeling constantly run down, exhausted, and frustrated, then I would ask…are you waiting or striving to move ahead of God?

The waiting seasons are so refining, but they are also like the rest stops of our lives.  The gas station stops of life, where we get out of the car, stretch our legs, have a snack, and get ready for the next leg of the journey.  The waiting is a gift.

When we wait, we pull out of the momentum on the earth…the worldly momentum…and we step back into the stream of God.

Have you been wondering what to do next, but hear nothing from God?  Then wait.  Just wait.  Sit in His presence and thank Him for a breathing moment.  Thank Him for providing in the “in between”. 

I have learned so much about the rhythms of life during this last 5 or 6 years. 

For years, I felt drug along by life.  Every day felt a measure of stress because of the relentless nature of schedules and outsider’s expectations.  Pulling back from that and meeting God in that space, has revolutionized my life.

He says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10a

It’s in our stillness that we can notice how great God is, and how much we need Him.  I want Him.  When I get in His presence, I always discover how desperate I am to know Him better. 

I’d rather wait on the Lord and spend my days on this earth more intentionally, than to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off wasting time, pretending to be productive. 

Today is a great day to stop.  Stop and consider your days.  Are you in a season of waiting?  Are you frustrated by that and trying to surge forward, outside of that season?  If so, then repent and lean back into the arms of the Father, as He restores your strength for tomorrow.  He is a good Father.

Wait on the Lord:  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen you heart:  Wait, I say, on the Lord.  Psalm 27:14

This world can make us think that we need more. 

We need more money, stuff, fame…it never seems to end, this desire for more.  Our entire culture seems to have lost sight of the only More we truly need.  More of Jesus.

When our family began to grow and Chris and I became established in a career, abundance happened upon us.  Neither of us had grown up in abundance, so it was very surprising.  It left us feeling overwhelmed, and confused, at times…and desperately unprepared for dealing with it.  The one thing we did do well, was give a lot to others.  That’s the part I miss the most.  I love to give generously.  Chris and I both do.  And I know we will again, soon. 

The blessing of the Lord came, and we tried our best to navigate the waters.  In hindsight, I now know that God was teaching us in all those moments.  He allowed us to navigate and struggle, so we could become strong in this area.  It’s been so humbling, but more than that, it’s been an honor to learn.  Moving from little to abundance to little; and receiving so many life lessons. 

Life is a wonderful teacher.  Allowing God to lead us through it makes it most profitable. 

On this end, as I’ve said before, God has shown me that He hasn’t been punishing us in this season of financial struggle, rather He’s been teaching us.  Our industry collapsed, not us.  We just experienced it and had to decide to grow or give up.  Now we are established in our hearts and minds, and ready to receive abundance again.

Thinking about this season has made me so grateful for “less”.    

When things changed, it felt oddly relieving to pull back and learn how to better steward.  I’ve realized that our children have learned so much, watching us navigate less, yet finding an attitude of abundance in it.  Abundance is a position of the heart, not finances. 

Instead of making a strict budget seem like a burden, I have tried to always make it feel like a fun challenge.  Now the kids hold the calculator as we shop for groceries, and it’s a fun goal to keep the total under a certain amount.  They take it as a personal challenge.  We don’t face it from a position of lacking, we face it from a position of joy.  We are all excited when we come in under the budgeted amount.  It’s actually increasing their confidence and instilling a proper view of finances in them.

Less is truly more, quite often.  Using self-control can feel very satisfying.

When times are especially tight, I try to make it a fun challenge to not waste a single leftover.  I will try to re-invent a previous meal and make it fun.  So much of walking in less, has to do with attitude.

We are walking in less but have far more abundance.

God is here.  We love each other.  Our lives are full of the goodness of God.  We are all constantly learning, growing, and changing.  Our lives are so full with less. Less external distraction.  Less comparison.  Less competition to live like others. 

We are who we are.  God is Who He says He is.

Today is a great day to evaluate your less.  What would you benefit from having less of?  What does real abundance look like?  Are you living in it? 

God, show us all how to walk in true abundance.  Lead us into the less that becomes more.  Less distraction and more of Your presence.  Less of the rat race and more of Your embrace.  Less comparison with others and more of knowing Who You say we are.  Come Holy Spirit and speak to our hearts.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.  That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.  Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds.  They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And why worry about your clothing?  Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?”  Matthew 6:24-30

I saw myself in the midst of the day, in the middle of the struggle, wrestling with change…and I was bound.  As if a cord was wrapped around me multiple times, it felt hard to move.  Then I heard one word, “Worship”.  When I heard that word, it felt like an impossible request.  I felt so bound that I didn’t even know how to start.  It was as if the cord around me was also around my vocal cords.  I heard again, “Worship”.  I began to feel my insides beginning to respond.  And then I felt worship.  Yes, I typed that correctly.  I felt worship. 

True worship begins inside.  Before a sound escapes your lips.  Worship begins in our spirit and bursts forth through our flesh.  It comes from our connectedness with heaven.  Our spirit, once it’s saved by grace, becomes eternally connected with heavenly places.  It’s in alignment with God.  That’s where authentic worship comes from. 

Worship brings the absolute best feeling of freedom. 

It’s always baffling to me how difficult it is to begin worshiping sometimes.  When we are sad, angry, worried, frustrated…worship can seem like the last thing we should do, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  Worship is the answer. 

As I prepared to embark on this year long commitment to write devotionals again, I heard God saying, “You’re going to worship your way through this year.  You will have to worship if you are going to write.”

Worship is the answer.

Have you ever felt the call to worship, yet everything inside of you resists? 

The battle between our spirit and our flesh can be intense.  Reaching past our flesh and grasping onto our spirit can feel nearly impossible.  But it is always worth it. 

We should worship even when we don’t “feel” like it.  Even when we are in the midst of worship, and still don’t feel focused in it…we should continue to press forward…because if/when we do, we will always find Him.

Our first Love.

The only One worthy of worship.

I encourage you to lean into worship today.  Let this week begin with an attitude of worship.  Let it not be the worship of Sunday morning, with the crowd.  Let it be the worship from one to One.  Let it be worship fully focused and surrendered to our King of kings.  Let that worship center you as this week begins.  Let it establish you.

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast.  The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”  And instantly, I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.  the One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones- like jasper and carnelian.  And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.  Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them.  They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder.  And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames.  This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.  In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.  In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.  The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.  Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out.  Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty- the One Who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”  Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One Who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One Who lives forever and ever).  And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.  For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.”  Revelation 4

Do you ever think, “I was made for so much more than this.”? 

We are made for much more than the things this earth is offering. 

We are made for freedom. 

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.       2 Corinthians 3:17

This explains why, on the earth, the enemy is always fighting freedom.  He is the culprit behind communism, socialism, WEF, laws against freedom.  It’s so obvious.  The enemy is always in opposition to freedom because that’s where the Lord dwells.

We are made to win.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.  Romans 8:37

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  1 John 5:4-5

We are seated in heavenly places, so it’s no wonder we feel unsatisfied with the earth.

For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:6-7

We are made for authentic love, not a perverse and selfish earthly version.

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  1 John 4:8

This is My commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  John 15:12-13

As believers, we are desperate to give and receive authentic love…it’s just that most of us have never fully received or understood what it looks like.  Even still, it’s definitely a worthy pursuit.  Seek out true love.  Pursue the One Who is love and I imagine we might just stumble upon it.

We are aching for heaven. 

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.  But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ.  So, I really don’t know which is better.  I’m torn between two desires:  I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.  but for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.  Philippians 1:21-24

I really feel those verses.  Every day, I ache to be united with God in heaven, but I also know He has created me to do good works here on earth.  That’s the great tension.  The push and pull between our time on earth and our longing for heaven. 

You may be wondering what the point of today’s devotional really is…and it’s this…we shouldn’t deny that we desire more.  Instead, we should acknowledge that we are, in fact, made for more than this earth.  Because when we do, we begin to see eternal purpose in everything we do now.  It all matters. 

We each have one lifetime…don’t you want to spend it completely?

I was getting settled in my chair so I could write a few more devotionals for next week, and I had a myriad of thoughts parading through my mind.  Nothing in particular.  Just that random soup of thoughts. 

Suddenly, I saw a spark inside my chest.  It looked like a tiny flame.  Then I heard, “You are the gift inside.”  It felt true, but I thought, isn’t Holy Spirit the gift inside of me?  I inquired of the Lord, “Was this thought from You?”  Then I heard, “Yes.  The real gift of life is discovering what I created your spark to set fire to.  Knowing what you are really on the earth to do and be.  Most don’t even begin to know.  Many don’t care, but I will hunt you down with your purpose.  You won’t miss it.  Just look for the spark.”

I’m reminded of one of my favorite hymns, Pass It On.  Part of it says, it only takes a spark to get a fire going.  And soon all those around can warm up in the glowing.  That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it, you’ll spread His love to everyone.  You’ll want to pass it on. 

Wow.  I just love the way God communicates.  I had no idea where I was going with that song until I typed the words, then suddenly, more of the vision and word from above made sense.

The point of discovering the gift God has placed inside of each of us, isn’t for our own fame and accolades, it’s because when we use our “spark” it catches others on fire too.  It inevitably spreads God’s love to the world. 

I am not searching for my purpose so I can be something.  I am searching out what God wants to do with my life, so I don’t waste what He’s given me. 

I personally think it would be awful to get to heaven and discover that I had missed a whole bunch of opportunities.  I’m suddenly remembering that earlier this morning I had asked God to pursue me with any opportunities that I’d missed the first go around. 

Wow.  I’m stunned.

I had completely forgotten about that, now I see that God has been woven into my entire internal conversation this morning.  He has been wanting to speak to me. 

Friend, you were created with a purpose and for a purpose.  Why not discover what that is?  Don’t you want to know what was on God’s mind when He wrote the book of your life before you were even born?  I do.  I hope you do too.

It’s time to stop living life on autopilot and start living with intention.  We take back territory and build a legacy for generations to come by living intentionally. 

Since I started stepping back and evaluating, literally, everything…I’ve discovered we do so many things just because it’s what we’ve always done.  Or it’s how our families did it.  Or it’s what school taught us was important, and so on.

I don’t want to live that life.

I want to live life holding hands with Jesus as He guides and directs my every step, encounter, circumstance…all of it.  I don’t want to breathe one breath without being aware of Him.  I’m in love.  I’m also in awe.  And I’m also humbled by the fear of the Lord to the place where I must fulfill His purpose for me. 

I keep remembering the parable of the talents.  That’s how I see us and our purposes.  I don’t want to bury it.  I don’t want to waste it.  I want to spend it and watch it grow and bring God a great return for His investment in my life.  Don’t you?

Today, I encourage you to connect with God in a deeper way.  Ask Him to reveal to you, what He created you to do.  Ask Him, “What is my purpose?”  Then, believe what He tells you.  And ask Him to begin to lead you into it.

It will change your life.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous- how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.  Every moment was laid out before a singe day had passed.     Psalm 139:13-16

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.  He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bad of silver to the last- dividing it in proportion to their abilities.  He then left on his trip.  The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.  The servant with two bags of silver also went to work an earned two more.  But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.  Matthew 25:14-18         (I encourage you to grab a Bible and read the rest of this story)

Winter is much more than just a season of weather.  It can also be a season of the soul.

I’m sure you’ve been through at least one winter season in your life.  It’s the season when hard things happen.  The season when it may feel like everything is dying inside of you.  A time when one thing after another seems to go wrong, or troubles just keep coming after you.  It’s a hard season…and often lengthy.

Our family has been through a long winter season. 

It’s felt at times, like Narnia, when they thought they might never see spring again.  Trapped in a perpetual winter. 

Yes, I can understand how they felt, very well.  But just as we learn to prepare for and face winter on earth, we must learn to navigate winters of the soul.

We are facing a cold blast here in Oklahoma that started in the wee hours of this morning and is going to last a week or so.  Since we knew the storm was coming, we prepared.  The kids and I unhooked outdoor hoses and took care to leave all the faucets dripping overnight so that our pipes don’t freeze, much less, burst.  We did our weekly grocery shopping a day in advance since the weather was nicer.  We pulled out boots and made sure we had coats and hats handy.  It’s a time of intention.  A time when we must think ahead to prepare.  Essentially, we winterized our home. 

In much the same way, we must winterize our hearts, so we don’t get metaphorically frozen up, or much worse, burst.  This is why it’s important to always spend time reading the Bible daily.  It’s important to worship God alone, and with other believers, if possible.  It’s important to always be listening to God and if He points out a place in your heart that needs tending, then tend to it now, rather than later when you have a real and much larger problem. 

I believe we can often see the winter coming, but other times it seems to appear out of nowhere…and we can be left feeling unprepared, completely lost, and out of control.  Unless we focus on always being prepared. 

Like the blizzards of the pioneer’s time, we could get lost in a sudden white out.  Those storms could come upon them in a moment and leave them without any way to know where they were. 

The only remedy for unexpected winter, is to be consistently storing up whenever we are in the kinder and more forgiving months.  Just as farmers prepare year-round, so must we…spiritually speaking.

Things will happen in our lives.  It’s a certainty.  The only question is when, and how do we deal with it?

Don’t feel forlorn though because even winter can bear fruit.  This winter that came upon our family revealed places of weakness in our reserves, both physically and spiritually, and for that I am extremely grateful.  Now, we have grown so much and with such deep roots, that I am confident when the season changes, we will move forward with much more deliberate hearts. 

No matter what season we are in, we can praise the Lord for His goodness and faithfulness, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that great is His faithfulness to us.  Greater than any winter we could ever face. 

O Lord, I have come to You for protection; don’t let me be disgraced.  Save me, for You do what is right.  Turn Your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly.  Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.  You are my rock and my fortress.  For the honor of Your name, lead me out of this danger.  Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone.  I entrust my spirit into Your hand.  Rescue me, Lord, for You are a faithful God.  Psalm 31:1-5

Praise the Lord!  Let all that I am praise the Lord.  I will praise the Lord as long as I live.  I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.  Psalm 146:1-2

You awaken the dawn.  Oh God of all the earth, only You can awaken the dawn. 

You call the sun to rise and set each day.  You set the world and all of time into motion.  Only You can orchestrate the great symphony of each day.  From the highs and lows to all tempo changes, You establish the right rhythms.  Oh, that each of us would learn how to listen to Your timing, Your tempo, Your orchestration.

Oh, God of all things, You alone hold the world in Your hands, and also count all our tears…storing them in Your jar.  Great and Mighty One, You alone know the whole story, as You are the Author of all life.  How could we not trust You?  King of all kings, why would we tremble at a man’s authority when we know that You reign Sovereign and Supreme above all. 

This great mystery is too wonderful for me to understand…how you can hold everything together while still giving us the gift of free will.  It’s amazing.  Breathtaking, when we stand back and consider all you do.

Lord of all the earth, why would we consider the power of any man as being more than You?

Today, Lord, I want to reconnect my soul to Who You truly are and what You can do.  I want to see life through all the ways You prepare, restore, bless, and keep me.  I lay down the fear of man and take up the fear of the Lord.  Then I will begin to find wisdom. 

God, I ask for wisdom.  Grant me wisdom and understanding, that I might know the way through this life and into heaven. 

But Lord, while I’m on this earth, help me to be grateful.  Teach me to love others well.  Show me how to serve You.  Let my life be like a drink poured out.  Show me how to remain focused on heaven, even when walking out my daily life. 

I will choose to praise You every day.  Let all that is within me praise Your holy name!

My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises with all my heart!  Wake up, lyre and harp!  I will wake the dawn with my song.  I will thank You, Lord, among the people.  I will sing Your praises among the nations.  For Your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.  Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.  May Your glory shine over all the earth.  Psalm 108:1-5

Remember me, Lord, when You show favor to Your people; come near and rescue me.  Let me share in the prosperity of Your chosen ones.  Let me rejoice in the joy of Your people; let me praise You with those who are Your heritage.  Psalm 106:4-5

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the way we communicate.  Where is the line between complaining and sharing?  When do we go from informing and processing to grumbling and complaining?  These are difficult lines to see.  I think it’s partly because they are so fine. 

Are you a verbal processor?  I certainly am. 

One hard lesson I’ve learned over the years of navigating healthy ways to process is, it’s pretty easy to pass the point of processing and enter into wallowing, if you’re not careful. 

Do you know what I mean?

This verse comes to mind:

Too much talk leads to sin.  Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.  Proverbs 10:19

I’m talking about the times when we begin to confide in someone, so we can process, but take it further than we should.  Those times when we move past processing, and instead, begin magnifying the problem to the extreme, or exaggerating because we’ve run out of things to say.  When this happens, we move straight past any solution and into the bottomless pit of improbable possibility.

Processing as it’s intended brings me to solutions every time.  It is amazing when I simply begin to talk something through, and suddenly, it’s as if a light turns on in my mind and I know exactly what to do.  This process usually doesn’t even take many words.  It’s as if allowing the words to begin to come out, clears my mind to a place where I can hear. 

But if we’re not careful, and continue to talk just to be heard, then inevitably we fall into wallowing.

Processing is a healthy way to find an answer.  Wallowing keeps you in the turmoil. 

Is this hitting a nerve?  It’s certainly convicting to my heart.

I can feel in my heart when I’m taking my talking to far.  Can’t you?

It’s in these moments that we must lean into that often-undiscussed fruit of the Spirit…self-control.  Yes, I said it.  We must use self-control to stop our own words from tumbling out beyond helpfulness.  It’s a learned behavior, but very necessary.

I encourage you to pay attention over the next few days.  How often do you speak, just to fill the space?  How often do you move from processing to exaggerating for effect?  What do the people around you do?  Are they complainers?  Are they using restraint? 

It’s important to pay attention.  To take a moment and be honest about yourself and those you surround yourself with. 

If you realize you are talking too much, simply repent, and ask God to lead you into change.  If you notice a lot of people in your inner circle have this problem, then ask God to help you refrain from joining in.  Your new found wisdom may just influence them toward a change, or God may move you away from them and into a more positive group of influence.  It’ll be worth it, either way.

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?  Cleanse me from these hidden faults.  Keep Your servant from deliberate sins!  Don’t let them control me.  Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalms 19:12-14